Road Horror Victims Identified

By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK The police have released the identities of the five people burnt to death when the car they were travelling in burst into flames after a head-on collision on the Trans Kalahari Highway early this week, as road accident statistics continue to rise. The deceased, of a family of five, were 53-year-old Stephanus Humbu, 40-year-old Batseba Humbu, four-year-old Mukona Humbu, five-year-old Mbaunguraiye Humbu and seven-year-old Kakazona Katjizemine. According to the police, the accident occurred on Monday between 18:00 and 19:00 when the driver of the white Nissan lost control of the vehicle and swayed towards the oncoming Toyota Hilux. The collision occurred after the left rear tyre of the Nisssan vehicle burst. Another car accident occurred on Sunday at about 20h00 along the Ondangwa/Oshikango main road at Ohangwena village, resulting in the death of 35-year-old Eliakim Kalola. The other five occupants in the Toyota Hilux escaped with minor injuries. As of late road accidents have been claiming many lives on the country’s roads. Just last weekend a double tragedy struck in a rather bizarre way when the vehicle that carried two corpses overturned, spilling the bodies out in the veld. The two bodies reportedly belonged to individuals who were part of the group of 12 people who lost their lives a few weeks ago in a horrific crash between Kalkrand and Mariental. The accident occurred on the very same stretch of road where all 12 lost their lives. Meanwhile, in other crime developments, seven people narrowly escaped death and sustained slight injuries when the front right tyre of the motor vehicle they were travelling in burst and the vehicle overturned. The incident occurred last week Friday around 18h45 on the Keetmanshoop/Aroab Road some 7 km from Aroab. Two suicides were reported to the Namibian police at LÃƒÆ’Ã†’Ãƒâ€ ‘ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Â ‘ÃƒÆ’Ã†”Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¼deritz and Outapi in the Omusati Region. Respectively, the 25-year-old Klaas Ambrosius Christians allegedly shot himself with a 9mm pistol and the 36-year-old woman Selma Mwaala died by hanging herself with a rope in her hut at Ongulumbashe village. In a case of abduction and rape also in the north, the suspect allegedly took a 13-year-old girl away from home while her parents were visiting some cuca-shops. According to the latest police report the suspect allegedly raped her and has not been arrested so far, but police investigations continue. In another bizarre case a skeleton of an unknown man was found at 10:00 some 14 kilometres from Mile 14 in the desert between Henties Bay and Swakopmund. “The skeleton is believed to be of a male person between 18 and 20 years of age wearing a left brown Bata shoe, size four and a half,” reads the police report. Moving back to the northern part of the country in Onandjaba, a case of attempted murder has been reported to the police there. At Three Star Bottle Store in Onandjaba location, Okalongo, 33-year-old Linkela Hauwanga was allegedly “beaten several times on the head and face with a brick after a quarrel”. It is further reported that the quarrel erupted between the victim and the suspect over a N$20 from a jackpot machine. While the victim has been admitted to the Oshakati State Hospital, the 35-year-old male suspect has been arrested and appeared before the Outapi magistrate’s court this week Monday. On Sunday, Rosh Pinah Quick Shop was robbed of N$31 000 in cash by an unknown suspect between 18h00 and 20h00. “The suspect broke through the roof,” states the report further and police investigations continue. In conclusion, a case of stock theft was reported at Ariamsvlei at Farm Jerigo a week ago when two suspects stole 90 goats. A total of 83 of the goats valued at N$58 100 were recovered, while the others are still missing. A 28-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the case, while the other is still at large. Police investigations continue.